COVID-19 updates for new graduate students

For the most up-to-date information on the COVID-19 situation, please refer to the following resources:

If you have additional questions after reviewing the information below, please contact Morgan Delaney (graduate program administrator) or Gregory Blaisdell (graduate program chair).

Update for international students (July 6, 2020)

International students who currently have a visa should be aware of any restrictions related to taking online courses. While there was a SEVP exception allowing F-1 visa holders to take more online classes than typically allowed for Spring 2020 and Summer 2020, this exception has changed for Fall 2020. For more information or help with a visa status question, visit the ISS website or contact ISS directly via phone (765-494-5770) or email.

Important update (June 25, 2020): Fully online fall semester learning

Purdue recently announced an online option for graduate students who have been admitted to one of our on-campus degree programs but who cannot or would prefer not to come to campus this fall due to a variety of reasons — from health-related to the inability to travel or obtain the necessary visas or other authorizations. The deadline for opting into this fully online fall academic experience is July 15, 2020.

Note that this online option is distinct from our existing distance education MS program and is not available to students enrolled in our distance MS degree program.

Students in the Professional Masters Program (Engineering Leadership concentration) were initially excluded from the online option; however, the University will soon contact the Professional Masters students with information about how they may participate. They will have the same July 15, 2020 deadline for opting into the Online Option Experience; however, they will have a unique process for doing so and they will need to follow the instructions in the email the University will send to them once those details are settled.

No action is needed on this option if you plan to join us on-campus this fall.

To access more information, students can visit the Online Option Experience site. 

Students opting into the Online Option Experience can view AAE graduate courses and courses from other departments.

For international students, based on updates from ISS, it is unlikely that a student who is outside the country and does not already have their visa will be able to obtain the necessary documentation to arrive in time for the fall semester. This online option provides any students who cannot come to campus a way to progress academically, but students must opt into the online option by July 15, 2020 or they may choose to defer admission to a future semester (see below).

Deferring admission

If you cannot or prefer not to come to campus in the fall, and you also do not want to enroll in the Online Option Experience, then you have the option of choosing to defer your admission. You are allowed to defer admission once and up to one year from your originally admitted term. For example, if you are admitted to Fall 2020, you can defer to Spring 2021, Summer 2021 or Fall 2021. Deferment beyond Fall 2021 requires re-applying to the graduate school.

If you want to defer, accept your offer of admission from the Purdue Graduate School and send your deferral request via email to Morgan Delaney. The decision to defer admission to a later semester can be made close to the start of the Fall 2020 semester. However, you still would need to accept your offer of admission as directed in your admission letter..

Teaching Assistant Offers

If you received a teaching assistant (TA) offer from AAE but you are outside the U.S. and cannot come to campus, we can hold your funding offer until Spring 2021. Please contact us if this is the case.  We cannot provide a salary or stipend while you are outside of the U.S. For students in the U.S., teaching assistants are expected to be available on campus, unless the course to which they are assigned is being taught online only. If you currently have a TA offer for the Fall 2020 semester, are located in the U.S., but do not expect to come to campus, please contact us. TA offers for current students will be made at a later date.